Fits like a glove

LOCAL charity Sunshine Butterflies has received a helping hand from the Bendigo Bank Tewantin in the form of a perfect-fitting sponsorship.
Bendigo Bank Tewantin helped Sunshine Butterflies buy six life-sized puppets that will be used as an inclusion tool and resource for the new puppet troupe program.
Sunshine Butterflies founder Leanne Walsh said the puppet troupe program had been specifically designed to break down the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding disability as well as helping kids learn about acceptance, understanding and compassion.
“Having Wayne Hoens and his team at the Tewantin Community Bank branch on board is fantastic and their support has already made a big difference in getting our message out to a number of childcare centres and schools in Noosa,” Leanne said.
Earlier this week, Leanne and Wayne took time to pose with the puppets before the performance at Little Lambs Early Learning Centre at Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosaville. They stayed to watch and enjoy the performance with 48 youngsters.
Tewantin Community Bank manager Wayne Hoens said it was a great opportunity to experience this unique way to educate our younger generation first-hand and to help them discover everyone has differences.
“We’re delighted to support Sunshine Butterflies and this program in particular. The puppet troupe performances follow life-sized, child-aged puppet characters who each have various disabilities,” he said.
“They present themselves as regular kids and share how they think and feel and how difficult it is for some of them to move or communicate. It’s insightful, a lot of fun and immediately breaks down barriers.”
The puppet show includes sensory activities so children can learn what it feels like to be hearing, vision or physically impaired.
Resources include various distorted glasses and Braille books for vision impairment, earmuffs for hearing impairment, a wheelchair and thick gloves to experience the difficulties in writing, eating and dressing.
If you would like to know more about the puppet show or any of the services Sunshine Butterflies provides, call 5470 2830 or 0416 272 123.
You can also email admin@sunshinebutterflies.com.au for further information or go to their website, sunshinebutterfiles.com.au.